The "Detour" which makes a stop at the Arcimboldi and May 31 to Palabanco Brescia sees him alone on stage

The bus which runs Europe is the same that led Michielin Francesca and her staff to the Eurovision in Stockholm, but Elvis Costello must seem huge because the "Detour" which makes a stop tonight at the Arcimboldi (and on May 31 to Palabanco Brescia) sees him alone on stage. This concert tour offers, in fact, the opportunity to hear the author of "Almost Blue" vocals and guitar, electric storyteller in a show that leaves, of course, freedom in the choice of repertoire.

Those songs that in '87, at the time of the "Costello Show", chose with the help of a wheel of fortune peasant festival, now Elvis takes them out of the room, sniffing the mood to reinvent himself as before the cameras dvd "Detour live at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall ", arrived on the market last autumn in tow robust autobiography" Unfaithful music & disappearing "and its double compilation. Without Steve Nieve floor, Nick Lowe guitar or that of Marc Ribot, to name some famous partner of the past, the former punk from "Brutal Youth" in this Detour indulges in a stream of consciousness that preserves some strongholds, such as the cover of "She" by Charles Aznavour or fragments of the glorious seasons with the Attractions such as "Oliver's army" and "Accidents will happen". "Elvis is sincere and direct, often funny, and has an amazing knowledge of music as his love for life, for art and for science ', ensures bassist Greg Cohen, one who knows him well avendoci played together" My mood swings "in the soundtrack of" The Big Lebowski "by the Coen brothers. Besides that Costello is a destiny written in the DNA. And not because of divine jazz who impalmato in third wedding, Diana Krall mother of his twins (the second wife, Cat O'Riordan, was the Pogues bassist, while the first, Mary Burgoyne, gave his son Matthew), but for a family tree inescapable: the grandfather Pat trumpeter on steamboats on the route Liverpool - New York, her mother Lilian responsible for the music department of Selfridges department store on Oxford Street in London and father Ross, "voice" of the big band Joe Loss in the fifties and sixties (hosted by Elvis, in the guise of trumpet player, both in the compilation of scattered songs "Out of our idiot" in "Mighty like a rose"). And then the pseudonym of art, declined from the heart to the great-grandmother Elizabeth Costello and the thought to the "King of Rock", certainly more evocative of Declan Patrick MacManus who handed him the registry office 62 years ago.

"My aim is true", the first album, dates back to '77; the momentum of the journey between punk, new wave, rock, bluegrass, pop, country and folk of an omnivorous personality able to scratch the curiosity of the fans as well behind the aura of formality of the classical institution such as Deutsche Grammophon, the label for which he recorded alongside the Swedish mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter, but also of the London Symphony Orchestra thanks to some music written for the Reggio Emilia ATERBALLETTO. Thirty the studio albums, six live ones, countless collaborations; pop of Paul McCartney aristocrat easy listening to Burt Bacharach, the weblog soulful New Orleans the great master Allen Toussaint hip hop alternative of Roots, to love letters to Juliet Shakespeare to music in '93 with the complicity of Brodsky Quartet. While his undefinable mantra is "I'm here to disorient the people whenever I can", it must be said that Declan Elvis-he succeeds very well.

It was advertised to start at 9pm, like most Italian shows, but Larkin Poe came on stage to an almost empty venue at 8.15. I had just arrived and heard them starting so rushed in. Most of the rest of the audience arrived just before 9 so missed the support.

The venue was half to two thirds full. Not a huge arena, maybe 1500, but it appeared to be an inflatable dome. The acoustics weren't great and you could hear outside noise such as the rain and sirens through the show.

The audience for the most were quiet. Elvis started his first anecdote to almost total silence. I think there was a language barrier tonight. So we had very few stories, no mention of his father, mother, grandfather etc.

His voice was fine but he did seem to have trouble clearing his throat on Shipbuilding and All This Useless Beauty

The security were very tight. One of the roadies got me a set list and the steward was trying to stop him giving it to me. He then ushered me out as the roadie came after me to give me a plectrum. I went around the back to see Elvis and it was all barricaded off. There seemed to be no one else waiting but the same security guy came over and orders me out of the gates. I think I saw Elvus being driven away so he didn't hang around for long afterwards

There didn't seem to be any other interest in meeting Elvis apart from an older Italian guy asking security if they could get Elvis to sign his book. He was told no and sent away.

I approached the stage at the end which seemed frowned upon but the English roadie was happy to help. He said there was just one set list taped to the monitor which he held over the front of the stage and another chap just took it from his hand. The roadie then said to wait and he would get another from back stage. At this point security wanted everyone out of the hall. I stood my ground and when the roadie returned the steward tried to stop him giving me the set list.

It doesn't matter in the end as I think I've been treated to two excellent shows in Bologna and Brescia and heard 38 different songs over both nights